Hot line clamp



July 18, 1950 J. L. MOCULLOUGH 2,515,553

HOT LINE CLAMP Filed Jan. 13, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor John L-. Mc OuIIough (ma Wave Em July 18, 1950 J. L. MOCULLOUGH 2,515,563

now LINE CLAMP Filed Jan. 15, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2' Inventor John L. Mc Cullaugh WWW EMU:

Patented July 18, 1950 e a HOT LINE CLAMP John L. McCullough, Independence, Calif.

Application January 13, 1947, Serial No. 721,757

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in clamps for high voltage power lines or conductors and the invention has for its primary object to provide a clamping device adapted for attaching to the usual insulator attached to the pole of a power line, the clamp being adapted for releasably securing the line in position on the pole.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a hot line clamp of this character adapted for detachable engagement with the insulator so that the insulator may be removed and replaced when the same becomes damaged or broken without necessitating an interruption in the line.

A still further object is to provide a hot line clamp of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on a line 4--4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on a line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,

the numeral 5 designates a casting which forms the base of the clamp, the casting having a threaded recess 6 in its bottom portion adapted for mounting on the usual upstanding pin of a power line insulator of conventional construction (not shown). However, if desired, the bottom of the casting may be cemented or otherwise detachably secured to the insulator.

The top of the casting is formed with a pair of spaced parallel upstanding flanges 1 forming a channel 8 extending transversely of the casting.

The flanges I are formed with aligned notches 9 tapering toward the base of the channel 8, the base of the notches forming a groove extending transversely of the groove 8 and in which the power line or conductor is adapted to seat.

Lips H extend outwardly from the opposite side of the casting adjacent the ends of the groove ID, the upper surface of the lip being curved as at l2 to form a continuation of the groove lo, the outer edge of the lips being rounded to avoid any sharp contacting edge with the cable or line seated in the groove.

A pin l3 extends between the flanges l at the rear edges thereof and on which is pivotally mounted a clamping head I4 having a groove 15 formed in its lower surface adapted for receiving the upper surface of the line or cable seated in the groove [0 when the clamping head is lowered into its clamping position.

The clamping head I4 is formed with a fiat rear edge l6 adapted to rest upon the rear portion of the groove 8 to support the clamping head in an upwardly inclined position as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings to permit insertion of the line or cable in the groove Ill. The clamping head is p0- sitioned between the flanges and a screw I! is threaded at an inclined angle in the bottom portion of the head and projects outwardly therefrom, the outer end of the screw having a flange l8 and an eye or ring [9 formed thereon.

The front edge of the base or casting 5 is formed with a shoulder 21] having a vertical slot 2| therein in alignment with the groove 8 and adapted to receive the screw 11 when the head I4 is moved into its lower position whereby the flange l8 will be engaged under the shoulder 20 in a line clamping position as shown in Figure 1.

In using the clamp the base 5 is first attached to the insulator after the latter has been mounted on the pole and the line or cable is then placed in the groove l0 and the clamping head i l lowered into clamping position with the flange I8 engaged under the shoulder l0.

Should the insulator become damaged or broken, a suitable hot line tool engages the ring Hi to loosen the clamping head and the head [4 is then swung upwardly into its raised position as shown in Figure 4 so that the line may be removed from the groove It], the clamp removed from the insulator, the insulator removed from the pole and replaced. The clamp is then replaced in position in the same manner and the head l4 lowered into its clamping engagement.

It is believed that the details of construction and manner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A hot line clamp comprising a base having a threaded aperture therein for attaching to an insulator of a power line pole, said base having a groove in its upper surface, a clamping head pivoted at one edge to the base and adapted to enter the groove, said base and said head having complemental grooves in their opposed faces disposed transversely of the first-named groove, and adapted to receive the line therein, said base having a, vertical slot in its edge opposite from the pivoted edge of the head, a shoulder in the side of the base under said slot, and a retaining bolt threaded in the head and adapted to enter the slot of the base, and said bolt having a head engaging said base under said shoulder.

JOHN L. McCULLOUGI-I.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 318,182 Guhl May 19, 1885 843,259 Clark Feb. 5, 1907 1,090,686 Cook Mar. 17, 1914 1,278,013 Reed Sept. 3, 1918 1,928,622 Hendee Oct. 3, 1933 2,000,652 Snyder May 7, 1935 2,427,916 Lincks Sept. 23, 1947 

